Grants and Schemes News: page 17
- June 2023
Warmer Homes Scotland contract due to expire
Scottish Government screening assessment confirms the Warmer Homes Scotland contract expires on 30 June 2023, with a successor national scheme due to start three days later on 3 July 2023.
- May 2023
EBSS alternative funding scheme closes to new applications
The Energy Bills Support Scheme alternative funding route, which paid £600 to households in Northern Ireland without a direct electricity supplier relationship, closed to new applications on 31 May 2023.
Great British Insulation Scheme scores matrix published
Ofgem published the first Great British Insulation Scheme scores matrix on 30 May 2023, setting out the scores energy companies receive for measures installed under the scheme.
Which? urges households to get lost or expired EBSS vouchers reissued before 30 June 2023 deadline
Which? has said lost, missing or expired Energy Bill Support Scheme vouchers for traditional prepayment meter customers can still be reissued and redeemed until 30 June 2023.
E.ON-led consortium awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding
DESNZ has awarded Green Home Finance Accelerator funding to an E.ON-led consortium with Energy Systems Catapult and Heatio to pilot Heat as a Service and Energy as a Service products.
External Wall Insulation innovation measure approved
Ofgem has approved an external wall insulation innovation measure under ECO4, with the InstaClad Robust EWI system approved under that measure on the same date.
Ofgem opens consultation on administration of Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 amendments
Ofgem opened a five-week consultation on 11 May 2023 on how it would administer the Great British Insulation Scheme and amendments to ECO4, closing on 16 June 2023.
British Gas Energy Trust Individual and Family fund opens for applications
The British Gas Energy Trust reopened its Individual and Family fund on 2 May 2023, offering grants of up to £2,000 to clear energy arrears for households in England, Scotland and Wales.
Digital service updated so all application stages can be completed digitally
Ofgem has reported that further improvements to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme digital service in May 2023 allow installers to complete every stage of an application online.
Energy firms holding £280m of unclaimed Energy Bills Support Scheme payments
More than four million Energy Bills Support Scheme payments worth almost £280 million were still to be made or redeemed for October 2022 to February 2023, figures reported in the Mail on Sunday show.
First Minister announces Fuel Insecurity Fund tripled to £30 million for 2023-24
First Minister Humza Yousaf has tripled Scotland's Fuel Insecurity Fund to £30 million for 2023-24, saying it will help households at risk of self-rationing or self-disconnecting their energy use.
Scottish Government announces £10m extension of Fuel Insecurity Fund
The Scottish Government has extended its Fuel Insecurity Fund by £10m, a scheme that has written off millions in household energy debt and issued thousands of fuel vouchers.
UKGBC publishes consultation response on VAT energy saving materials relief
The UK Green Building Council has responded to an HM Treasury call for evidence on VAT relief for energy saving materials, welcoming the expanded relief and pressing for it to cover more technologies.
VAT ESM relief extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023
The temporary VAT zero rate on installing energy-saving materials was extended to Northern Ireland on 1 May 2023 under the Windsor Framework, aligning its VAT treatment with Great Britain.
Zero rate for air source heat pumps extended to Northern Ireland
From 1 May 2023 the temporary zero rate of VAT on air source heat pumps and other qualifying energy-saving materials applies across the whole United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.
- April 2023
Consultation on Great British Insulation scheme LA and Supplier Flex administration closes
Ofgem's consultation on how the Great British Insulation Scheme and ECO4 Flex will be administered closed on 28 April 2023, drawing 16 responses from local authorities, suppliers and others.
ECO+ renamed Great British Insulation Scheme and consultation response published
The government has renamed its ECO+ insulation programme the Great British Insulation Scheme and confirmed its eligibility rules, supplier targets and ECO4 changes in a consultation response.
£30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator launched
The Energy Plan of April 2023 set out a £30 million Heat Pump Investment Accelerator and extended the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028, alongside a new insulation scheme for 300,000 homes.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme extended until 2028
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme will run until 2028 under the Government's Powering Up Britain Energy Security Plan, keeping grants of up to £6,000 towards a heat pump in England and Wales.
Great British Insulation Scheme announced, replacing ECO+
The government's Powering Up Britain energy security plan includes the Great British Insulation Scheme, formerly ECO+, to upgrade 300,000 of the least energy efficient homes, and extends the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2028.
Evidence period for Alternative Fuel Payment applications extended by 3 months to June 2022
Grant Shapps extended the Alternative Fuel Payment evidence window back to June 2022, so households that bought heating oil, LPG, biomass or solid fuel in bulk before winter can still claim £200.
Ofgem consults on Great British Insulation scheme LA and Supplier Flex administration
Ofgem has opened a three-week consultation on how it would run Local Authority and Supplier Flex under the Great British Insulation Scheme, and on possible changes to ECO4 Flex administration.
Which? warns low-income households face £209 shortfall and calls for social tariff
Which? research published on 4 April 2023 estimates the poorest tenth of UK households will spend an average of £209 more on energy this financial year and calls for a targeted social tariff.
Analysis reveals regional gaps in Energy Bills Support Scheme delivery
Analysis of the first five months of the Energy Bills Support Scheme shows missed or unredeemed payments above four per cent in several areas of high fuel poverty, with £241m still owed.
New Child Benefit evidence requirements take effect
Ofgem's ECO4 delivery guidance v1.1 confirms that new evidence requirements for the Child Benefit eligibility route take effect from 1 April 2023, alongside clarifications on Solar PV, LA Flex evidence, hybrid heat pumps and electric heating.
Energy efficiency funding to open in April
Details have been published of how £630m will be spent through the Home Upgrade Grant and £780m through the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, with funding available from April for insulation, glazing, heat pumps and solar panels.
Funding support for energy saving measures expanded
Funding support for energy saving measures, until now usually limited to low income or benefit-claiming households, is being expanded to more people from April 2023, according to the Centre for Alternative Technology.
Great British Insulation Scheme introduced by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps introduced the Great British Insulation Scheme, targeting homes in Council Tax bands A to D with lower energy efficiency ratings, alongside a three-year extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Next iteration of Warm Homes Programme to start
The Welsh Government has confirmed that the next iteration of its Warm Homes Programme will begin in April 2023, continuing advice and efficiency support for lower income households in Wales.
- March 2023
Government response to Great British Insulation Scheme consultation published
The government published its response to the consultation on the Great British Insulation Scheme in March 2023, setting out the design of a supplier obligation later launched as a £1bn programme.